Device in Connection with a Floor Cleaning Machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) in connection with a floor cleaning machine functioning with liquid. According to the invention a combined hub ( 5 ) for supporting a brush/disc ( 6 ) of a floor cleaning machine has three functions, viz. A: as a hub for a brush/disc for holding the same, B: as a distributor for the distribution of liquid to said machine, radially from the outside towards the centre of the hub, and C: as a distributor for the distribution of vacuum to said machine in order to suck up washing liquid from the machine.

The present invention relates to a device in connection with a floorcleaning machine functioning with liquid.

As far as known floor cleaning machines and other similar machinesfunctioning with liquid are concerned, the feeding of water is broughtabout in the centre of a rotatable brush or another floor treating tool.However, when such feeding of water in the centre is used, dirt has atendency to accumulate easily and finally get stuck in the water inlettube, which results in interruption of the functioning of the machine.

There are solutions in that washing liquid is supplied to the hub of afloor cleaning machine through a central tube and then is spreadradially through radial spreader tubes. As examples thereof it isreferred to U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,854 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,051 A, US2009/0260177 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,574 A. However, the washingliquid is still supplied centrally through a hose or a tube at the riskof clogging and stop in said tube or hose as a result.

Known solutions require complicated means in order to attach therotatable brush, etc, of the machine, and suction means to suck up dirtywashing liquid from the floor after the washing with machine. In thisconnection it is i.a. referred to the patent publications mentionedabove, and also to GB 2 345 241 A.

A known compact hub, which comprises channels for the distribution ofvacuum to said machine in order to suck up washing liquid, does notallow efficient deflection in intended direction, but whirls and otherunwanted effects are formed.

SE 529 868C2, owned by the present applicant, concerns a water suctiondevice in a combi cleaning machine comprising three suction nozzles(11), which are surrounded by blades (12, 13) in one of their respectiveends, for catching waste water and suction.

The water, which is conducted radially in the known machines, does notconstitute distribution of liquid, but instead it is washing liquidwhich is conducted towards the centre of the hub (18) of the brush to beforwarded to a waste water container (25) through a hose (24). Cleanwashing water is supplied through an axial tube (14), which may, ofcourse, be clogged easily.

Consequently, the main object of the present invention is first of allto among other things solve some of the problems described above bymeans of a device designed for that purpose.

Said object is achieved by means of a device according to the presentinvention, which is mainly characterized in that a combined hub forsupporting a brush/disc of a floor cleaning machine has three functions,viz.:

A: as a hub for a brush/disc for holding the same,

B: as a distributor for the distribution of liquid to said machine,radially from the outside towards the centre of the hub, and

C: as a distributor for the distribution of vacuum to said machine inorder to suck up washing liquid from the machine, whereby the hubcomprises a movable channel for the water supply, and which is arrangedto rotate with the hub and conduct the water radially from the outsideand towards the centre of the hub to be discharged axially in downwardsdirection, that a releasable plug is fastened in the centre, whichcomprises channels arranged to redirect the air flow about 90°, thatsaid plug comprises a plurality of channels arranged with double bends,so that they firstly extend horizontally, and which then via obliquelyupward extending channel portions 17A pass into upwards directed channeloutlets 17B to drain off sucked-up washing liquid, and that a suctionring for the suction of washing liquid from the floor is so positioned,that it surrounds the brush and may be attached to a rotary centralshaft by means of a number of springs and said hub.

The hub in question, which is adapted for a brush/disc of a cleaningmachine, has preliminary three functions: to distribute clean water, todistribute vacuum for the suction, and to be an attachment for thebrush. It has a concentric water feeding system which is based on amovable channel which rotates with the hub and conducts the water past aspring system and vacuum hoses. The channel is fed through a nozzlethrough the chassis. Then, the water is conducted through the hub and isspread down on to the floor in the centre of the brush.

The hub replaces a previous variant with water feeding in the centrethrough a tube, where the problem was that dirt accumulated easily andgot stuck in the water feeding tube. By moving the water feedingradially outwards that problem was eliminated. However, a type ofcleaning machine is provided with a suction ring which is placed roundthe brush, which is attached to the rotary shaft by means of springs andthe hub. These springs, and also the suction tubes, cause that the watermust be conducted through a channel down under the brush in order not tosprinkle and disappear in the wrong place.

The hub now also exhibits a removable plug in the lower part, whichmakes it easy to clean, and which redirects the air flow for the suctionabout 90° with minimum flow losses.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hub seen from above, which is adaptedto be mounted on a floor cleaning machine and which exhibits brush andhoses,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of only the hub,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hub,

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the hub seen obliquely from above and obliquelyfrom below, respectively,

FIG. 6 illustrates a floor cleaning machine adapted to support a hub inquestion,

FIG. 7 illustrates the hub supported by such a floor cleaning machine inactive position,

FIGS. 8-11 illustrate the hub in different positions and with includedparts,

FIGS. 12-13 illustrate a part of a floor cleaning machine with the hubmounted therein,

FIG. 14 illustrates the air flow when washing liquid is sucked up, and

FIGS. 15-16 illustrate the supply of water to the washing part of themachine.

A device 1 in a floor cleaning machine 3 functioning with liquid 2,which is preferably of the type which is brought forward manually alonga floor 4 by a person walking after the machine, comprises according tothe present invention a combined hub 5 for supporting a brush/disc 6 ofsaid floor cleaning machine 3. According to the invention said hub 5 hasthree different functions, viz.:

A: as a hub 5 for a brush/disc 6 for holding the same,

B: as a distributor for the distribution of liquid 2 to said machine 3,radially 7 from the outside 8 towards the centre 9 of the hub, and

C: as a distributor for the distribution of vacuum 10 to said machine 3in order to suck up washing liquid 11 fed out from the machine 3.

Said hub 5 comprises a movable channel 12 for the supply of water 2, andwhich is arranged to rotate with the hub 5 and conduct the water 2radially 13 from the outside 8 and towards the centre 9 of the hub 5 tobe discharged axially 14 in downwards direction 15. Said movable channel12 is formed by a cone-shaped, in downwards 15 direction taperingsleeve, which is placed on the upper part of the hub 5 from above. Inthe centre 9 of the hub 5 a plug 16 is inserted from below and removablyattached, which comprises several channels 17 arranged to redirect theair flow 18 with the vacuum 18 about 90° radially from the outside 19 toaxially upwards 20. Said plug 16 comprises a plurality of channels 17arranged with double bends, so that they firstly extend horizontally17A, and which then via obliquely upwards extending channel portions 17pass into upwards directed channel outlets 17B to drain off sucked-upwashing liquid through a connected channel 21 for collection, forexample, in a tank 22 in the machine 3. Also clean washing liquid maysuitably be received in a separate tank 23 in the machine 3. The numeral50 in FIG. 1 refers to a hose connection for the feeding of water, andthe numeral 51 refers to the bearing and bearing housing of the hub 5.

A suction ring 24 for the suction of washing liquid 11 from the floor 4is so positioned, that it surrounds the brush 6 and may be attached to arotary central shaft 25 by means of a number of springs 26, and said hub5 and said suction ring 24 exhibit at regular intervals A along itsperiphery distributed sockets 27 to be connected to suction hoses 28. Inthe illustrated embodiment three sockets 27 are arranged with centralinterruptions 29 at said hub 5 and the channel part 12 for the receptionof said sockets 27 therein.

Said sockets 27 are connected to the channel portion 17A of said plug16, which is bent about 90° and leads to the channel outlet 17B of saidplug 16.

The nature and function of a hub 5 in question and its device 1 andarrangement at a floor cleaning machine 3 of known type should have beenclear from the above description.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Modifications arepossible, especially as far as the nature of the different parts isconcerned, or by using equivalent technique, without departing from thescope of the invention as it is defined in the patent claims.

1.-4. (canceled)
 5. A hub for a floor-cleaning machine that uses acleaning liquid and has a brush disk, comprising: a movableliquid-supply channel configured to rotate with the hub and conduct thecleaning liquid radially from an outside of the hub toward a center ofthe hub for axially downward discharge; a releasable plug in the hub'scenter; a plurality of channels configured to redirect air flow about 90degrees, the channels having double bends, so that the channels firstextend horizontally, and then pass via obliquely upwardly extendingchannel portions into upwardly directed channel outlets to drain offsucked-up cleaning liquid; and a suction ring for suction of cleaningliquid from a floor, the suction ring being configured to be positionedand connected to suction hoses such that the suction ring surrounds thebrush disk and to attach to a central rotary shaft by a number ofsprings and the hub; whereby the hub holds the brush disk, distributescleaning liquid to the machine radially from the hub's outside towardthe hub's center, and distributes suction to the machine for sucking upcleaning liquid.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the suction ringcomprises sockets at intervals around its periphery configured to beconnected to suction hoses.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein three ofthe sockets are configured to be received at central interruptions atthe hub and the movable channel.
 8. The device of claim 5, wherein themovable channel is formed by a cone-shaped, downwardly tapering sleeve.9. The device of claim 8, wherein the suction ring comprises sockets atintervals around its periphery configured to be connected to suctionhoses.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein three of the sockets areconfigured to be received at central interruptions at the hub and themovable channel.